In debate, Cruz zeroes in on Dewhurst

Updated 11:17 am, Monday, April 23, 2012

GOP hopefuls for U.S. Senate, from left, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Tom Leppert and Ted Cruz listen to a response from Craig James.

GOP hopefuls for U.S. Senate, from left, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Tom Leppert and Ted Cruz listen to a response from Craig James.

Photo: Brad Loper

In debate, Cruz zeroes in on Dewhurst

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DALLAS - In a televised debate Friday evening featuring four Republicans vying to succeed U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the presumptive front-runner, found himself under relentless attack from the man who casts himself as his chief rival, former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

With terrier-like doggedness, Cruz turned almost every question that came his way into an attack on Dewhurst, whether the issue was state spending during Dewhurst's tenure as lieutenant governor, health care or illegal immigration. Cruz labeled Dewhurst a "timid career politician; he himself was "a strong, conservative fighter."

"I sometimes get a little confused," Dewhurst said at one point. "I'm running for the United States Senate. Some of my opponents are running against David Dewhurst."

Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, the former CEO of New York-based Turner Construction, sought to portray himself as the voice of reason in the race, neither a career politician nor a lawyer but a businessman who has created thousands of jobs.

"People are concerned about the economy, about their jobs," he said. "That's where we need to engage the voters."

The fourth candidate in the debate, former SMU football star and ESPN analyst Craig James, cast himself as a self-made man who understands the value of hard work, one who reveres the Constitution and the Ten Commandments. He also touted his 30 years as a businessman, in addition to his notoriety as "the football guy."

Fielding questions from four journalists, the candidates took typically conservative positions on most of the issues. Each expressed strong opposition to President Barack Obama's health care legislation, called for more "boots on the ground" along the Mexican border and opposed federal mandates.

'Owes an explanation'

Cruz, a fiery and articulate Cuban-American who has emerged as a tea party favorite despite never having held public office, attacked Dewhurst in the first few minutes of the debate for having skipped more than 30 previous debates and public forums. "Anyone running for the U.S. Senate owes it to the voters to stand in front of them," he said.

James said he believed the lieutenant governor "owes an explanation" to voters about why he didn't participate in those events, and Leppert said he was embarrassed to be addressing the issue - and alleged "rigging" of the debate when Cruz sent James a text message suggesting he propose a question about Dewhurst "skipping 31 debates."

At one point, when Cruz directed a question about Dewhurst's record to Leppert, the former Dallas mayor said: "I might as well step back and let you ask David."

Then he took a shot at Cruz, saying that while he did a good job in the state attorney general's office, "the reality is, you haven't led a business."

Dewhurst defended himself by saying he had attended several forums but was spending more of his time going to the people directly. "I'm out talking to what I think is a lot more voters every week, literally hundreds and hundreds, sometimes thousands. ... I'm listening to the people I talk to all around the state of Texas."

One TV debate left

With about six weeks to go until the May 29 primary, the televised debate may have provided voters their first glimpse of the top contenders to replace Hutchison, who retires in January.

It will be the first open Senate seat since 2000.

Not all the GOP candidates were invited to the Friday night debate in Dallas, either because they didn't rank high enough in the polls or hadn't raised enough campaign funds to make them viable candidates.

The winner of the May 29 primary - or the July 31 runoff if needed - in November will face the winner of the Democratic primary, where former state Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson is the only candidate with any name recognition whatsoever. Also in the race are Addie Dainell Allen of Beaumont, Sean Hubbard of Dallas, and Grady Yarbrough of San Antonio.